The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-12
INDICTING OFFICERS.
Deputy Sheriff O'Pry aud Lieutenant
Wylie Charged With Mlsdene anor.
From the Macon tGa,) Telegraph.


From the Macon (Ga,) Telegraph.
The grand jury yesterday found true
bills against w. H OPry and va Wylle'
charged with misdemeanor. .
The facts in this case are aboutas follows;
The two officers are charged with having
received portion of the reward offered Dy
the Governor for the apprehension OF W. u.
Ford, one of the alleged Moore lynchers'
1t will be remembered that Ford was ar
rested In Hancock county by DetectlVe
Shaclzelford and brought to Macon. 1t Is
claimed that the detective paid portion oil
the reward to the officers for Information
given by them which led TO Ford's capture
Mr.. O'Pry, when questioned as to the mat
ter yesterday, said: II have abundant evil
dence that did my whole duty, in this mat
ter, and will give you some idea OF whaC
that was. About month ego was gwen
paper by Mr.. w. G.. Undertake to serve on
Ford. For some time had been trying 10
find not only Ford, but others who were m
dicted in the Moore matter, and at the
proper time will furnish the proof. Well,
Mr.. Undertake told me he thought Ford
was at the Jewell Mills, in Hancock county.
/ asked if he was certain that he was over
there. He replied no. but that he
would write and see. A few
days afterward asked him il
he had heard from Ford. He replied that
he had not. Again ! asked him and he had
not heard. Well, on the afternoon OF April
IA | received information that Ford was IN
the city. ] went immediately for the pur-
pose of aIresting him, and on going to the
city hall asked Lieut. Wylie to assist me;
We went to Ford's house and there ] found
out that he was not in Macon. also
learned that Ford was preparing to
leave the State and would be aided by his
brother in escaping. Knowing that the
County Commissioners never had, ana That
they would not pay my expenses out OF the
county to make the arrest, and
knowing that as Ford knew me,
and if was seen he could
keep out of my way, I thought it best to
give Shackelford the information and thus
secure the man before he could leave the
State. This is the head and front of my
offending. | simply did indirectly what L
was prevented by circumstances from doing
directly. Subsequent events prove that had
| not given the information to Shackelford,
Ford would have escaped into South Caro-
lima, or elsewhere. Since have been Deputy
Sheriff, / have always endeavored to do
nothing but my duty, and | believe the good
people of the county will bear me out i'll
this assertion. This is the first time in my
life that have been charged with non-per
Torrance of duty; and, with the explana-
ton / have given you, | fully believe that
the people will readily see that the charge is
without foundation
Lieut. Wylie said: "Ithas been the Gus
tom not only here, but all over the State,
for years and years for public officers to re-
ceive rewards, and frequently l have been
given reward money by the State authori-
ties. / was with Mr.. O'Pry when he tried
to make the arrest, and know that he was
prevented from doing so only by Ford not
being here. The information was given to
Shackelford SO that he could get him before
he could get out of the State"
1t is a known fact that police officers have
received rewards offered by the Governor,
and this is the first instance in Macon of any
notice being taken of the fact by the author
tiles. Lieut.. Wylie has consulted some of
express the opinion that nothing can be done
in the matter